🧵The Absurdities of Polytheism by Christian saint and philosopher Athenagoras.

Athenagoras was a second century Greek philosopher who converted to Christianity and became one of the great defenders of the Christian faith. In second century Rome, polytheism was widespread. pic.twitter.com/tK8uTMFJQN

— Bill🇺🇸🇻🇦✝️ (@Bill4Christ) December 28, 2023

Roman polytheists often accused Christians of athiesm since they denied the existence of all Roman gods. But Athenagoras explained that Christians do in fact believe in a God and a very powerful one at that.

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Athenagoras noted that many philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, and Philolaus also believed in only one God that created the universe. These philosophers were not accused of atheism. But Athenagoras not only defended monotheism, he also pointed out the absurdity of polytheism.

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Athenagoras wrote, "If there were from the beginning two or more gods, they were either in one and the same place, or each of them separately in his own. In one and the same place they could not be."

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"For if they are gods, they are not alike; but because they are uncreated they are unalike: for created things are like their patterns; but the uncreated are unalike, being neither produced from any one, nor formed after the pattern of any one."

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"For if the world is confined within the circles of heaven, and the creator of the world is above the things created, managing that by His providential care of these, what place is there for the second god, or for the other gods?"

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Athenagoras goes on to say that the second god cannot be in the world because it belongs to the other god nor about the world because the other god is above it.

Two different gods cannot both own the world. Now one could say that it's possible that a god is in another world.

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Athenagoras writes, "But if he is in another world then he is not about us, for he does not govern the world; nor is his power great, for he exists in a circumscribed space."

Who would want to worship a god that only owns a section of a certain place?

— Bill🇺🇸🇻🇦✝️ (@Bill4Christ) December 28, 2023

It is much more rational to believe that there is only one God who created the world in His image independent from and having no conflict with other gods. It does make sense to believe that there are other gods somewhere who got outside of the control of the creator god.

— Bill🇺🇸🇻🇦✝️ (@Bill4Christ) December 28, 2023

The Christian god is one and He is all-powerful. He rules the entire world that He created in His own image. Polytheism is a false belief system that leads to all sorts of logical dilemmas and raises more questions than answers.

— Bill🇺🇸🇻🇦✝️ (@Bill4Christ) December 28, 2023

In contrast, the Christian belief system is clear and internally consistent. It makes much more sense to be a Christian than a polytheist.

– These writings from Athenagoras come from his letter to the Roman Emperors entitled "A Plea for the Christians."

— Bill🇺🇸🇻🇦✝️ (@Bill4Christ) December 28, 2023